An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday,
March 5, 2002 commencing at 7:10 a.m.

A. ROLL CALL

Present: Council Members – Hitchcock, Land (arrived at 7:16 a.m.), Nakanishi, and Mayor Pennino

Absent: Council Members – Howard

Also Present: City Manager Flynn, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston

City Clerk Blackston reviewed the weekly calendar (filed).

Announcement
Mayor Pennino reminded Council that Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock would be absent from the regularly scheduled Shirtsleeve Session on March 12, due to her attendance at the National League of Cities conference. In addition, The San Joaquin Partnership & Business Council is holding its annual meeting on March 12 and Mayor Pennino encouraged Council and staff to attend. Council Member Land indicated that he would be attending The Partnership’s meeting. The consensus of Council was to cancel the March 12 Shirtsleeve Session.

C-1 "Street Lighting Policy"

Public Works Director Prima recalled that approximately four years ago staff identified 15 miles of unlit streets in the City. Since then, Electric Utility has undertaken a program to install lighting throughout Lodi. The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the policy related to this program.

Mr. Prima defined parkways as the space between the sidewalk and the curb where trees are typically planted. Staff believes that in these areas a low-level light fixture projecting light under the trees and spaced further apart is more appropriate than lighting the street from 30-foot fixtures. Concrete standards are used in areas with parkway strips.

Electric Utility Director Vallow stated that staff strives to maintain neighborhood continuity as much as possible in areas where lighting is not consistent. Once the street lighting project has been completed the Utility will begin retrofitting lighting as needed.

Referencing page 4, section C, 2, Mr. Prima noted that the policy requires the Utility to notify property owners prior to installing street lights. Section C, 1, addresses in-fill development, which will be handled on a case-by-case basis. He indicated that in these instances, the retrofit program would assume the lighting task. Section D, 4, identifies "special purpose streets and areas" as the area defined by Church Street, Lodi Avenue, the railroad tracks, and Locust Street.

Mayor Pennino suggested that the area south of Lockeford Street be included in the special purpose area definition, rather than Locust Street. Council Member Land expressed agreement.

Mr. Prima reported that high-pressure sodium lights are more efficient than metal halide lights. In commercial areas, white light is preferred for better color rendition. Currently there is no lighting standard for parking lots and public areas.

In reply to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Vallow stated that it costs $40,000 to $60,000 a month to light City streets. Although the street lighting program will increase lights by 30%, the cost will not increase by that percentage because of the energy efficient lighting that is being used.

Council Member Land suggested that the policy include an expanded section on maintenance and replacement of lighting. He stated that a resident had voiced a complaint about a rusty light standard on the 500 block of Eureka Avenue, and he asked that staff look into it.

In reference to the issue of maintenance, Mr. Vallow stated that the Utility replaces lighting as time permits and the cost is absorbed in its budget.

Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock agreed that the policy should contain an ongoing maintenance component.

None.

No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 a.m.

ATTEST:

Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk